Alfred Hitchcock's moviemaking master class : learning about film from the master of suspense / Tony Lee Moral.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Moral, Tony Lee.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hitchcock, Alfred, 1899-1980--Criticism and interpretation.

Hitchcock, Alfred.

Hitchcock, Alfred, 1899-1980.

Motion pictures--Production and direction.

Motion pictures.

Cinematography.

Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

xviii, 224 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Studio City, CA : Michael Wiese Productions, [2013]

Summary:

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most revered filmmakers of the 20th century. Not only was he the "Master of Suspense," he was also an innovator of storyboarding, directing, framing, editing, and marketing. Hitchcock regularly engaged with his audiences and gave lectures at film institutes, universities, and film schools across the country. Now in this Movie Making Master Class, Hitchcock author and aficionado Tony Lee Moral takes you through the process of making a motion picture, Hitchcock-style.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: ch. 1 Tell Me The Story So Far

Write down your idea on a blank piece of paper

Pitching your idea

Write a catchy logline

Coming up with your own idea

-original screenplays

Adapting someone else's idea

-adapted screenplays

Themes in your story

The wrongfully accused man

The duplicitous blonde

The psychopath

Secrets and spies

Content

The MacGuffln

-what is it? (And does it matter?)

Keep your plot moving

Suspense vs. Melodrama

Give your audience information

Involve your audience in the suspense

Other directors using suspense

Exercises

ch. 2 Writing Your Screenplay

The three stages of the screenplay

The outline

The treatment

The screenplay

Breaking your screenplay into three acts

Breaking it down into scenes

Know your audience

Trust your spouse

Writing dialogue

Writing subtext

Writer's block

Write for comedy

Use counterpoint and contrast

Contents note continued: Exposition and dialogue

Have a surprise ending

The "Ice Box Syndrome"

Close your eyes and visualize

ch. 3 Pre-Production

Work with a production designer

Change your locations often

Make your locations work dramatically

Use your props dramatically

Avoid the cliche in your locations

Trains, planes, and automobiles

Use controlled locations to increase tension

Feature famous landmarks

Make your sets realistic

Use color sparingly

Costume for character

Storyboard your film

Storyboarding beyond Hitchcock: Pre-visualization

ch. 4 Working With Actors

Casting

Avoid the cliche in your characters

Audience identification

Use close-ups

Less is more

When stars don't shine

Kill off your main star

Solid heroes

The man Hitchcock wanted to be

-Cary Grant

The man Hitchcock was

-James Stewart

Glamorous heroines

Attractive villains

Contents note continued: Sex scenes and censorship

Actors as cattle

Be honest with your actors

ch. 5 You Have A Rectangle To Fill

Use a subjective camera

Use lenses that mimic the human eye

Frame shots for dramatic purpose

Use close-ups to increase suspense

Save your close-ups for dramatic effect

Use medium shots to identify with your character

Don't use long shots just for establishers

The high angle

The low angle

Use camera movement to keep the mood

Tracking shots

The "Vertigo Shot"

The crane shot

Use long takes for emotional intensity

Point of view

Light your film stylistically

ch. 6 The Art Of Cutting

Cut the film in your head

Montage

Edit montage to create ideas

Edit montage for violence and emotion

Save your cuts for when you need them

Jump cut to shock

Match cut to link ideas

Cross-cut to create suspense

Cross-cut for contrast

When not to cross-cut

Contents note continued: Use shot length to increase suspense

Fast cutting

Graphics and opening titles

The opening

The ending

ch. 7 Sound And Music

Utilize silence for effect

Sound effects

Ambient sound

Dialogue

Use songs dramatically

Music

Music for atmosphere

Music for emotion

Music for counterpoint

Spotting music

ch. 8 Don't Worry

-It's Only A Movie

Promote your film

Cultivate a persona

Have your own signature

Don't worry about being pigeon-holed

Surround yourself with talent

Be the best salesman for your films

Have a memorable movie title

Taglines and posters

Trailers

The cameo

Cameo appearances by other directors

Going for gimmicks

Exercises.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (page 223).

ISBN:

1615931376

9781615931378

OCLC:

812247462

Publisher Number:

99961500138